The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-12
SHOT TO DEATH.
The Story of Monstrous Crime and Its Pun
ishment-An Execution in Utah.

SALT LAKE City, Aug. 11.-Fred Hopt. alias
Welcome, was shot to death in the yard of the
penitentiary, four miles from this city, to-day
The firing party consisted of five men with rifles
DR.. Hamilton pinned rosette over Hopts heart,
told him to be firm and look straight the guns.
and death would come quickly; he would not be
mutilated, but would be if he f1inched. The
condemned man showed the utmost frmness,
and said he forgave everybody, but If he had
been given fair show on the first trial he would
not be fere to-day. He came ont of his cell
smoking cigar and kept it in his mouth to the
last He posed for photograph. He was
eated OIL chair upon a blanket, and sat up fir m
and straight. Marshall Dyer gave the word,
"Ready, fire." The crack of FIVE rifles rang out
as one and the rigid body of the dead man re-
tsnsd its rose. the body falling forward and the
chair falling over backwards and his stiff limbs
resting on the rung, as when he sat upright
Two bullets pierced the small rosette pinned
over his heart one little above the other, lit
tie below the center Of the rosette. Death was
instantaneous.
The case is one of great celebrity in Utah and
Wyoming for atrocious circumstances. The
murder was committed at Park City. Utah.
the night of July 3, 1880. the victim being John
F. Turner, son of John w. Turner, sheriff of
Utah county. He had started out with two
teams to get work, and met Hopt who had been
in jail at Provo. the county seat of Utah county,
for drunkenness and horse stealing. He en-
gagged Hopt to help drive team. They camped
together, and were joined later by Jack Emer
son. The deed was committed about 10 o'clock
in the evening, with an x. The next day, Hopt
and Emerson started with the teams, trading
off the grain in the wagons for whisky and pro-
visions. with the dead body in the bottom. under
the sacks of grain. That night Hopt covered
the body with rocks and brush and tried
to burn It. The teams turned east
ward, and one sold by Hopt at
Piedmont. and the other at Green River Hopt
took the money and had gay time with whisky
and women. at Cheyenne, until Sheriff Turner.
father of the murdered man, caught up with
him and identified him. In the meantime the
body had been found and identified. On the way
from Cheyenne, at Green River and at Echo, at
tempts were made to lynch Hopt, but he was
protected by Sheriff Turner, father OF the victim,
who had Hopt in custody At the first trial. in
February, 1881, he was convicted, but the United
States Supreme Court ordered a new trial be-
cause the Judges instructions were not reduced
writing, required by law. The second con-
viction, March 3. 1883, was reversed on account
of Judge Hunters errors. The third trial,
April 30, resulted in another conviction.
States Supreme Court again reversed
and ordered new trial. because the
record did not contain the charge of Judge Hun
tor Pending this appeal. the territorial judges
refused to grant n stay of execution, and Hopt
was about to be shot to death in spite or his ap-
peal when acting Governor Thomas granted
a respite The fourth trial was held before Judge
Zane. Sept. Il to %. 1885, and resulted in con-
viction. an appeal. as before, but the Judgment
affirmed. remittitur reached the Third
district court here June a. 1887. and on June
"a the court reset the time for execution to Aug.
IL Hopt having been given his choice between
hanging and shooting, as the law of Utah pro
vided chose to be shot to death, and this hnal
scene came of the tedious